Zachary Norris, March 05, 2019
California has one of the highest rates of police violence in the country, and people of color are disproportionately the victims of violence at the hands of law enforcement. According to the Mapping Police Violence Project, of 1,072 people killed in California by police from 2013-2018, only three killings resulted in officers being held accountable.
So it’s no surprise that Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert refused to bring charges against two cops who shot and murdered Stephon Clark, unarmed and in his grandparent’s backyard, just a few feet from where his children slept. DA Schubert’s appalling decision to let the Sacrament officers walk free is only the latest example of how cops abuse the current standards for use of deadly force. Just last month, the Kern County DA ruled the shooting of 72-year old Francisco Serna in his driveway while holding a crucifix was lawful.
That’s got to change. Now.
Read more:
Sacramento Bee Editorial, March 2, 2019: Stephon Clark’s Life Mattered. His Death Must Change the Rules for Police Deadly Force